What did you rehang today?

Thanks! I hate cutting trees down so in using whatever the Beavers drag into my trail I've bushwhacked down over the years behind my house. The buggers too lazy to drag it with them? I can do it!

I've got a handle in progress for a Emerson and Stevens 3 1/4 lb, lots of knots I've had to work out though. Not even half done.
 
Two Spiller doubles. A 3-1/2 lb. and a 4 lb.

The heads were slightly loose so I shaved them down a bit and coated them in oil, along with the carved wedge. The loss of the patina on the wood is unfortunate but I wanted these to be users. Eventually I will be able to get a close approximation of the colour.

I used paper towel and vinegar to clean out the eyes.

oil.JPG


Near finished. The Gransfors Forest axe was used to make the wedge, and also to work on a hand-carved haft (not shown).

two%2Bspillers.JPG


Thought this was an appropriate drink for the occasion. The knife was used for the wedge and also on the carved haft. Poor grain for a handle but it is a nice shape.

with%2Bbeer.JPG


I think it was Square_peg who mentioned that old axemen would cut down the wedge to help with retention, so I thought I would try it out. Used a woodcarving chisel to take it down. Now just have to sand it down and perhaps try some glue. I'll post the results if it helps with retention.

test.JPG
 
More good stuff tonight! Interesting concept with the wedge, I like it. I did it by accident once, now I'm going to start claiming that it was on purpose.
 
Thanks. I got it a little dirty testing because there were some ants around the spruce logs in the yard, so the pictures aren't the best. Just noticed the dirt in the pictures looks like rust. Also needs some grinding work, got most of that done on one though.
 
I think the one on the right in the 2nd picture has a lot of character.

I've never come across one but those look like great steel.
 
Yeah, I think the right one was abused a little. Probably pounded flat against a wedge. Almost looks like forging hammer, but I don't think they left them that rough. It's a nice looking abuse though.

It's a Deering Puukko (called it the Whittler, I asked for a shorter version of his standard puukko). The handle fits your hand so well you can carve all day with it. He posts on the forums sometimes (his photo of it):
attachment.php
 
Last edited:
Chignecto Woodsman said:
I think it was Square_peg who mentioned that old axemen would cut down the wedge to help with retention, so I thought I would try it out. Used a woodcarving chisel to take it down. Now just have to sand it down and perhaps try some glue. I'll post the results if it helps with retention.

test.JPG
Click to expand...

The way they did it was to stop just short of driving the wedge tight. If you've driven a dozen wedges or so you know when that is. Of course the haft was left 1/4" proud like we all do. Then they would cut the wedge off flush and use a wide flat punch to drive the wedge in the last 1/8". This way the protruding haft expands over the top of the wedge and locks it in. I have a couple done this way. The wedges never move. A piece of leaf spring heated and flattened on the anvil makes a nice punch - covers the whole wedge and fits inside the kerf.
 
Oh ok. I remembered everything apart from the stopping short. Basically I tried to cut the wedge just slightly short, but I reached the end anyway for some reason so just decided to try this with the chisel.

I like the leafspring punch idea. That's how I'll try it next time. This was only my second hang.

Thanks.
 
Agent_H said:
It could be an unstamped version. I like the unmarked ones like this one. Since I'm out here I took a shot with a Wood Slasher for comparison:
Click to expand...

the unmarked red heads with ridges in the eye are definitely woodslashers. unstamped means later in the production era, 60s or 70s TT, not Kelly, i assume. i have a few of them, all unstamped, a couple boys axes, an unstamped jersey with a partial paper label clearly stating "WoodSlasher", a red 3.5lb michigan double bit, all with the usual "two close, two far" ridges in the eye. many times will have a single letter and two numbers, such as B37 or C31, or similar as the only stamps, very light shallow stamps dead center of side/eye.

plain red ax with ridges = WoodSlashers. typical budget hardware store "user" axes, back when hardware store tools were still carried what would be considered "decent" quality USA made tools and implements... all mine have acceptable steel and what i consider fairly "thin" profiles. they dont need a ton of work at all in my experience.
 
Last edited:
Despite temps hitting 105 here the past several days I got an early enough start to get these done before it hit triple digits.
HH 16 inch octagon hafts. Red oak wood stain. I'm pleased with the color. Looks better than blo.
p4LPnSol.jpg

FsUPwXtl.jpg

m2EEVwYl.jpg

PEfUqoBl.jpg
PVcdeEal.jpg

D5H9eFLl.jpg

gRTx7pql.jpg

cJx5ooVl.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks COTS, the handle on the Plumb took it a little better. The ridges of the octagon cuts did not take it well but it is a good look to me. I finished both with a fine 220 grit sand paper before the stain so apparently the handle on the True American is a tiny bit more dense wood. 3 coats of stain, rubbed with a clean cloth after each coat, 15 mins between coats. They have been sitting in the 100 degree shade for a couple of hours and still have a slight tacky feel, or maybe it's just the humidity. I'll let them rest over night and see how they feel tomorrow. I'll find time next weekend to sharpen them.

I went back and added a few pics that show the color better so you can see the difference. I probably left too much wood sticking out on the Plumb. I may take an eighth of an inch off.
 
Last edited:
American Fork and Hoe Co. 1942 hatchet.

It was rescued from the wood pile at a house that my brother-in-law's family was moving out of over a year ago. This head was seriously mushroomed and the bit was heavily abused. It is my son's great grandfather's hatchet. I cleaned it up and thinned the bit back to useable and gave it to my son for his 10th birthday. After a month and a half I finally got around to finishing the cherry haft today and hung it with a black walnut wedge.



I have been on a straight haft kick lately so thats what this one got.



It is currently getting a finish of multiple coats of BLO and and then a couple coats of Tung oil will finish it off.
I hope he likes it. He has been away so he hasn't seen it yet.
 
CedarEater said:
American Fork and Hoe Co. 1942 hatchet.

It was rescued from the wood pile at a house that my brother-in-law's family was moving out of over a year ago. This head was seriously mushroomed and the bit was heavily abused. It is my son's great grandfather's hatchet. I cleaned it up and thinned the bit back to useable and gave it to my son for his 10th birthday. After a month and a half I finally got around to finishing the cherry haft today and hung it with a black walnut wedge.



I have been on a straight haft kick lately so thats what this one got.



It is currently getting a finish of multiple coats of BLO and and then a couple coats of Tung oil will finish it off.
I hope he likes it. He has been away so he hasn't seen it yet.
Click to expand...

That looks nice, I just sold one of those heads but it was 1944. Good stuff.
 
rockman0 said:
Thanks COTS, the handle on the Plumb took it a little better. The ridges of the octagon cuts did not take it well but it is a good look to me. I finished both with a fine 220 grit sand paper before the stain so apparently the handle on the True American is a tiny bit more dense wood. 3 coats of stain, rubbed with a clean cloth after each coat, 15 mins between coats. They have been sitting in the 100 degree shade for a couple of hours and still have a slight tacky feel, or maybe it's just the humidity. I'll let them rest over night and see how they feel tomorrow. I'll find time next weekend to sharpen them.

I went back and added a few pics that show the color better so you can see the difference. I probably left too much wood sticking out on the Plumb. I may take an eighth of an inch off.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree, the ridges being a little lighter just adds to the overall effect. Lookin good.


CedarEater said:
American Fork and Hoe Co. 1942 hatchet.

It was rescued from the wood pile at a house that my brother-in-law's family was moving out of over a year ago. This head was seriously mushroomed and the bit was heavily abused. It is my son's great grandfather's hatchet. I cleaned it up and thinned the bit back to useable and gave it to my son for his 10th birthday. After a month and a half I finally got around to finishing the cherry haft today and hung it with a black walnut wedge.

It is currently getting a finish of multiple coats of BLO and and then a couple coats of Tung oil will finish it off.
I hope he likes it. He has been away so he hasn't seen it yet.
Click to expand...
Very nice!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top